blog + MENSK

2010-01-04T07:41:00.001-08:00

Come out to the Salt Institute tomorrow evening for a (partial) Film Screening by Boston based production company, Planted Seeds and Danielle Connor. The plug:

The film follows Boston drag-based theater troupe All The Kings Men - their work, lives, and experiences making queer art and comedy. It also features gender hero Kate Bornstein, in all of her post-modern glory.

Ultimately we want this film to spark conversation. So come on down and help us get that started!

Date: TOMORROW Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, 561 Congress St., Portland, ME

Event sponsored by MENSK

Wassailing with Port Sports tonights

2009-12-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

MENSK will be out Wassailing with Port Sports at Binga's Stadium tonight to try and raise a little money. Be there between 7 and 10 to hang out, eat food, fraternize, and contribute to many great non-profits in and around Portland.

This is our largest charity event of the year. Part fundraiser, part food drive, part volunteer drive, all party!

Wassailng was the only time when Peasants were allowed to beg for food and money from the Lords without it being considered a bad thing.

Here at PortSports we band together to beg the over 750 members and their friends and family to try to make a difference in peoples lives with one party.

There will be Music, Dancing, Drinks, and Prizes all evening.

MEVLA Artist's Checkbook

2009-12-02T06:01:00.001-08:00

Hey gang. Check out this event Thursday December 3rd from our friends at MEVLA:

Maine VLA and the Center for Law and Innovation present “The Artist's Checkbook” -- A financial primer for Maine’s creative economy.

This December 3, 2009 Event will feature two parts.

Part 1 : An Educational Seminar

Maine VLA will present a panel of professionals who will each make a 15-20 minute presentation, followed by Q & A. Some presenters will bring visual aids. The focus of the discussions will be financial issues that artists confront on a regular basis:

Presentations:

“Taxes and Artists: Like Oil and Water Paint? Framing the Hobby Loss Rules and Business Expenses for Artists.”

Presenter: Peter Dufour, Macdonald Page & Co., LLC.

“Copyright Taxation: Everything You Should Know About it But Were Too Busy Doing Fun Things to Ask.”

Presenter: Christopher McLoon, Verrill Dana, LLP.

“Everything Has its Place: What to do With Your Income and How to Sustain (and Even Prosper!) in Any Economy.”

Presenter: Shannara Gillman, Institute of Financial Literacy

Part 2 : A Social Networking Opportunity

Guests are then invited to move into the atrium of the Wishcamper Center for “tea & cookies”. Light fare will be provided.

When: December 3, 2009 at 5:30pm

Where: The Wishcamper center at 34 Bedford Street, portland

Cost: $10 for the general public

$5 for collaborator members

Free for VLA members

Please Pre-Register at www.maineVLA.org

All tickets on day of event are $13

Collaborating Organizations:

Space Gallery, Five Rivers Arts Alliance, The Salt Institute, PACA, Institute of Financial Literacy, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Stage, PROPEL, City of Portland, Portland Music Foundation, MENSK, Maine Arts Commission, Center for Law and Innovation at the University of Maine School of Law, Maine College of Art, and the newly formed Maine Film Co-op.

Maine Food + Wine Ambassadors Wine Flight 5k

2009-10-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

MENSK will be at the Maine Food and Wine Ambassadors Wine Flight 5k tomorrow morning between 9 and Noon.

From their Site:

A fun "non-competitive" 5k event that combines the celebration of fitness and health with spectacular shoreline views, good company, and the best food Portland has to offer.

The Wine Flight 5k is a tribute to France's Marathon du Medoc, combining the fun of a 5k run/walk with the joy of food and wine. At each "Aid Station" you can sample delicacies from local Portland purveyors: cheese, olives, fruits, veggies, and chocolates. Upon crossing the finish line, you can eat more and drink too: your award is your entry to a wine-tasting celebration. Indulge - you've earned it.

It's a great way to be active and social. There is no time clock for this event - it's is all about the experience and atmosphere. Walk as easy as you'd like between stations. Make your pit stops longer than your splits. Chat along the way. Meet fellow runners and toast to the good life. The Wine Flight is packed with festive atmosphere.

MENSK sponsors Maine Food and Wine Ambassadors and this event. Hope to see you there.

truckShow: Dressed Up

2009-09-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

First Friday Art Truck Show I was Dressed UP! Friday September 4th we had an art truck. We had costumes. Some people put these on and were photographed. This is the proof. Check them out at MENSK's new FLickr Page.

Have the fun till next month!

Pointilli.sm

2009-09-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

MENSK is proud to announce our partnership with Pointilli.sm a new marco/ micro community blog from our friend Max Cohen, currently chilling out in Iceland. Max teamed up with MENSK to register with the Country of San Marino to register the uper-cool .sm domain name. In order to accomplish such a feat, you have to be a registered company or organization. Max being neither, did the next best thing, and got MENSK to sponsor his project. That's about as much as our control or involvement extends, the rest is up to Max and his talented group of writers (mostly Mainers) to keep on keepin' on and make their project thrive. We wish them the best of luck.

Pointilli.sm

The Phoenix also Rises

2009-08-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

MENSK got a nice spot in this week's edition of The Phoenix

Sometimes the biggest stumbling block for our fantastic ideas is a small, seemingly insignificant hurdle — a missing piece of paperwork, a logistical snafu, one degree of separation too many. These tiny troubles can "crush all the forward momentum you have," says Andrew Lyman, who was recently appointed executive director of MENSK, an art-activity umbrella organization in Portland. "The most important thing that I felt this organization could do . . . was to identify what those stopping points were and to do everything we could to fill those gaps."

read the Article

Thanks Dierdre Fulton

Gallery of Dark Arts Truck Show

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

08.07.09

See everyone's work, tag your work, and have the fun.

Dark Arts Truck Show

2009-08-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone who participated in the Dark Arts Truck for last night's First Friday. Drawing in the dark is no walk in the park, especially under a one minute time constraint, but our brave and trusting artists produced excitement again and again out of the void. Check back Monday for a gallery of all the pieces.

Until next month!

Eli's Road LES Travels

2009-07-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

For those interested, MENSK's founder, Eli Cayer, will be having a personal introspective Art exhibit
the upcoming First Friday August 7th, 2009 5pm-midnite @ the Arm Factory &
Maine Mead Works. Both are located at 200 Anderson ST. in Portland's East
Bay Side.

The show, titled "The Road LES Travels" will be covering the last 20 years
of creation, collaboration, and collection.

This event will be bookended by our own Truck Show.

RoofTop Film: Back to the Beach (1987)

2009-07-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

Bring your beach blanket, board shorts, and bikinis! Join a party of beach-goers at the top of the Spring Street/ Free Street Parking Garage. Free Music! Free Movie! Free Popcorn! Free Fun! Another installment in MENSK'S RoofTop Films Series.

Surf music from 8:30 until it gets dark. Movie at 9:00

This month: Back to the Beach (1987)

Frankie and Annette are back! (to the beach) via the 80's via the 60's!

PLOT (if that kind of thing is important to you):
Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello are husband and wife living in Ohio — far from the surf and sand of their earlier lives together. Heading to California to visit their daughter Sandi (Lori Loughlin), Frankie and Annette are appalled to learn that she has been making time with surfer Michael (Tommy Hinkley). In time-honored fashion, our hero and heroine set about to make the beach safe for fun-lovers everywhere by driving out Michael's unsavory friends.

Along the way, Frankie faces a challenge to his title from the younger surfers, and nearly ruins his marriage by dallying with Connie Stevens — one of several pop-culture icons appearing in the film, including Fishbone, Don Adams, Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr., Edd Byrnes, Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow, Dick Dale, Stevie Ray Vaughan, O.J. Simpson, and Pee-wee Herman.

Facebook Event

Encino Man

2009-05-20T07:37:00.001-07:00

May 17, 2009 RoofTop film: Encino Man was a blast. Thanks dudes.

Rooftop Film: Encino Man (1992)

2009-05-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Weeze the Juice! Check out fresh Nugs! Buuuuddy! An Everest of Modern Cinema, Enicno Man (1992) starring Brendan Frasier and Pauly Shore will be featured atop Portland, on this hopefully beautiful early Spring eve

Join is for the first RoofTop Film of the season...
Encino Man (1992) Starring Pauly Shore and Brendan Frasier.

**We'll supply the popcorn**

**Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets**

the event on Facebook

Drum Truck Photos

2009-05-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Some thrilling photos turned up from our good friend Bryan Bruchman of Hillytown Click the picture for the set.

drum truck photos

crashing and smashing success

2009-05-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Last night's Drum Truck was an absolute and total blast. Aside from the long and unmoving line at U-haul there were little to no hitches ...omitting the constantly blaring horn at Tommy's Park when it became stuck. It was a while before we found that perfect combination of punches and curses that would stop its wail. There were cops everywhere we went, but never for us. At Longfellow square a squad car pulled up right behind us. I ran to him waving my permit saying "I bet you wanna talk to me. We DO have a permit." He looked puzzled and said, "What? No, someone got laid out across the street. I'm not here for you." I said "...oh, well... we have a permit." He said "Great, have fun."

click the picture for the first wave of photographs:

the Drummers were:
Mike Cunnane
Jon Donnell
Andrew Fredrick
Elliott Heeschen
Ed Knisely
Ian Riley

Jenn Batchelor drove.

Andrew Lyman was excited.

Thanks to Nick Schroeder and Katie Hatch for water.

Extra thanks to Katie Hatch for homemade oatmeal cinnamon chocolate chip cookies!

Thanks to Diane for letting me make buttons.

Thanks to everyone for being around when this happened!!!

Facebook Photo Album
Vimeo Page

Cute as our Buttons

2009-05-01T06:52:00.001-07:00

Thanks to our great friend, craft queen, and drum wizard, Diane at Ferdinand for the use of her button maker. We've got a bunch of these handsome devils now. Look for them around.

Rock and Rove Truck Show

2009-04-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

Friday May 1st 2009

First Friday Again

2009-04-28T07:23:00.001-07:00

The days and nights grow warmer, and this year we get back into the swing of things a whole month ahead of schedule. A First Friday Truck Show for this Friday May 1st. What wonders will pop out of our U-Haul this time, be out and about in the Old Port from 6-8pm and you stand a good chance of finding out.

Love at long last

2009-04-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

After entirely too long, and everyone, including myself has forgotten their late winter romances, here are some photos from February's Something Like Love thanks to Maine Today

Something Like Love Photo Gallery from Maine Today

Earth Day 2009 wrap-up

2009-04-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Earth Day was another great year for Portland's strong green economy. With a healthy turnout by local artisans, representatives of clean water, bio diesel, alternative energy and transportation, and ...our neighbors in Alaska. It was an energetic community of high spirits and big ideas. The sun shone cheerily for most of the event, and plenty of Portland passers-by were made to stop and consider just what it was they were standing on. Thanks to all attendees. Hope to see you again in force next year. Check out some of the press for the event below:

Portland Press Herald
Portland Daily Sun
Portland Phoenix

April 22nd

2009-04-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Earth Day Vendor Registration Online

2009-03-28T11:32:00.001-07:00

If you'd still like to register for space at this fast approaching Earth Day 2009: All that Litter is Gold you can now do so online by following this link to the application and filling out all the appropriate information.

Thanks so much. We look forward to see you all out in Congress Square this April 22nd.

Vendor Application

Earth Day Vendor Forms

2009-03-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

If you would like to participate in Earth Day, please download our Earth Day Participation Form and e-mail the appropriate information back to andrew[at]menskmaine.org.

Earth Day Participation Form

Earth Day 2009: All That Litter is Gold

2009-03-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

Announcing our intentions for Earth Day 2009: All That Litter is Gold. Stay tuned for further details for the upcoming Wednesday April 22. A day which we promise to fill with fun and festivities in line with the theme of conservation, composting, and recycling. Come out and show the Earth you still care about it. More as it continues to develop.

the Present Future

2009-03-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

MENSK is happy to announce that it has selected new management. I, Andrew Lyman was asked to come on and bring focus and fresh eyes to this already great organization. I am very honored to have been selected for the task and beaming with excitement for what the future holds. There is a tremendous amount of energy in this city and in this group. MESNK will be restructuring its applications and objectives in the months to come. We hope to further contribute to the mobilization of the various disparate creative energies in this town and to foster the projects which will take us as a community into the next stage of the future.

"Any representation of reality is an agreement that reality is a certain way."
-Paige Schilt

We Have a Blog and Something Like Love

2009-02-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

Last year the Portland, Maine arts-based non-profit MENSK along with Spencer Albee promoted and hosted the biggest night The Empire Dine and Dance had seen to date with more than 600 people coming through the door over the course of the night to watch more than 50 of Portland's favorite artists from many different genres play their favorite love songs.

This year will prove to be a huge event as well, but with a couple of twists. Firstly, Spencer will co-host the show along side his new total BFF and hetero life partner Joe Ricchio. The show will be run in the format of a late night talk show called Night Cap with Spence and Joe. They will be joined by Joe Parra in the role of the talk show band leader. Over the course of the evening, The Empire and MENSK will once again host performances and short films by a number of Portland's favorite artists.

This year will feature mix and match performances from all new bands performing all new songs created especially for this event. The roster includes members of Dominic and the Lucid, The Dandy Lions, Cosades, Sarah Richardson, AS FAST AS, Confusatron, Phantom Buffalo, Spencer and the School Spirit Mafia, Chef Death Match, Pete Kilpatrick, Jonathan Wyman, Kino Proby, Rustic Overtones, Paranoid Social Club, Murder of Crows, Cult Maze, Brenda, The Cambiata, Grupo Esperanza, Marie Moreshead and MORE!
Another change of note is that this year the program will include short films by Dave Camlin of Conifer, Sean Wilkenson and The Fuge and ASSAULT KITCHEN.

MENSK is an arts based non-profit.(mensk)
Mission: The mission of mensk is to inspire and support personal, local, and regional action for the development of creative and sustainable communities.

More information about MENSK can be found at www.mensk.cc.

Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 day of show and will be available through Brown Paper Tickets online and at all Bull Moose Music Locations.